Home » It’s Over – DA Suspends Helen Zille. She Says More to Story…

It’s Over – DA Suspends Helen Zille. She Says More to Story…

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has suspended Helen Zille and accused her, on Facebook, of continuing “to damage the party with various pieces of communication that seek to undermine what we are trying to achieve”. She in turn accuses the DA of not complying with the federal constitution. Following a two-day sitting of the DA’s Federal Executive (FedEx), […]

By SAPeople
03-06-17 17:34
in News

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has suspended Helen Zille and accused her, on Facebook, of continuing “to damage the party with various pieces of communication that seek to undermine what we are trying to achieve”. She in turn accuses the DA of not complying with the federal constitution.

Following a two-day sitting of the DA’s Federal Executive (FedEx), DA Leader Mmusi Maimane announced the decision to suspend Zille from all party-related activities… until such time as her disciplinary hearing is concluded.

Zille has responded saying the decision does not comply with the requirements of the DA’s federal constitution “which requires that I be given time to make representations on the matter”.

She furthermore said she has received contradictory messages from the DA – a letter from FedEx Chairman James Selfe which gave her until 6 June to provide reasons why she should not be suspended; compared to Maimane’s statement which is “unequivocal that the suspension is already operative”. (See Update: DA Backtracks on Announcement of Immediate Suspension of Helen Zille.)

Maimane told a press gathering on Saturday that during the FedEx, “there was recognition that our country and its people are in pain right now. And all South Africans share a deep level of worry and concern for the future of our country…”

He said the focus for the DA is working together with those who share their core values – including other political parties, civil society, and trade unions – to realise a vision for South Africa that delivers what he believes would be a “better tomorrow”.

“Nothing should distract us from this goal,” he said.

“In this respect, the Federal Executive considered the matter concerning Helen Zille that is currently before the Federal Legal Commission.

“In order to ensure that our party focuses on building one nation with one future, I have been working to resolve this matter using all available means.

“It has become quite evident that Helen Zille and I hold fundamentally different attitudes about the mission the Democratic Alliance needs to accomplish in 2019, and the goals and priorities that flow from this.

“Ms Zille’s social media commentary and public utterances in connection with colonialism undermine our reconciliation project. There is no question that Ms Zille’s original tweets and subsequent justifications have damaged our standing in the public mind.

“We live in a fragile democracy which means our public representatives must, at all times, be sensitive to the legitimate anger that people still feel about our past and its legacy.

“As the Leader of the party, it is up to me to rebuild public trust. In this regard, I asked Ms Zille to tender an unreserved apology to both South Africa and the DA for the damage she has done. Unfortunately, she declined.

“In this period, Ms Zille has continued to damage the party with various pieces of communication that seek to undermine what we are trying to achieve. Accordingly, Federal Executive has resolved Ms Zille be suspended from all party related activities until such time as her disciplinary hearing is concluded. A notice of suspension will be served on Ms Zille in this regard.

This has not been an easy decision. But, as the Leader, I must do what is right for the party and South Africa…”

Zille refutes Maimane’s statement. In her own statement, posted on Twitter, she said Maimane’s “reason for why the FedEx took this decision is not the full story. This will emerge over time.

“It is not correct that I have refused to apologise. I have apologised publically. What I have not agreed to do is plead guilty to charges of misconduct which I never committed. Because the DA stands for freedom and fairness, we need to follow due process of law, especially when this is initiatied by the leader himself.

Zille, who will remain as Premier of the Western Cape, said she is prepared to face a full disciplinary hearing, but “I have not accepted that the DA has a right to find me guilty and penalise me before the hearing even takes place. I cannot be bullied into resigning or incriminating myself.”

UPDATE: DA Backtracks on Announcement of Immediate Suspension of Helen Zille.)

Meanwhile, Zille also took the opportunity today to remind people that it was her who first coined the term ‘state capture’ years ago: